"Never grow up," they say, but as children, that's all we ever wanted. They ask us to "enjoy your youth" because they recall their past attempts at acting mature without realizing how difficult it would be to be "grown." Momements when we declared we were "getting too old for dolls," when we informed our teacher that we didn't need our naps, when we were most concerned about the type of recess we would have that day, when 8 AM. was way too early for school, and when the first day of kindergarten turns into the first day of elementary all demonstrated our attempts to grow up too early.

 

“Time Flies,” they say, except I feel like it drives by without stopping for red lights. I feel as if someone has both hands on the wheel while I'm forcefully trying to press my brakes. I feel as if I'm driving 5 under the speed limit, and people speed in front of me while I'm left behind. Then I finally catch control and increase my speed, but now it's too fast for me to stop. I realize there is no going back or pressing reverse. I can change gears, but it'll only change my speed. 

 

The first day of middle school unexpectedly became the first day of high school. I should have paid more attention to those dumb sayings like "don't grow up" and "time flies."

I should have listened before the clock struck twelve, and now I'm sixteen. As we tell the next generation, "you don't want to be older," or "can you stay this little?" I'm hoping and praying that they listen and break the cycle of growing too quickly, even though I know it will happen. Knowing that I was once that little girl asking to be grown.

 

My wish was granted, but not in the manner I had anticipated. Instead, I'm creating resumes and applying for jobs. I'm writing essays in the hopes that colleges will find them interesting. Taking drives, but not with my parents at the wheel. I'm asking my counselors if I'm doing well academically and whether the classes I took were worthwhile. I'm wondering what I'll become after these two years. My dream of growing up was certainly fulfilled, but I had no idea that growing up would involve saying "goodbye," "hello," and "see you later." 

 

Time did fly, we’re all grown up, when did that happen? As we mature and live and realize staying little isn’t possible and never growing up is fully out of our hands, I hope that as we grow and live the lives that we were given, we take it as a blessing. I pray that as growing has its negatives, we also find the positives in being grown. 

 

I wish I had listened to the adults before I grew up. Before eight-hour school days became 9-5. Before pocket money was for snacks or toys and not bills and surviving. I should have listened before I grew up, slowed down when I had the chance. I shouldn’t have rushed being an adult. 

 

I wish I had taken people seriously when they told me to enjoy my youth. I shouldn't have taken being young as a curse. Now, as I'm older and grown, I can’t help but wish I could take it all back.  I wish to go back to when school consisted of recess and naps and fake weddings in the playground with our crushes. Back to when we hoped to grow older and didn’t know the consequences of it. Before our minds said, “we’re all grown up, when did that happen?